crocodile

plural crocodiles

1. Any of the predatory amphibious reptiles of the family Crocodylidae; (loosely) a crocodilian, any species of the order Crocodilia, which also includes the alligators, caimans and gavials.

   The Roman poet Horace states that the excrement of the crocodile has aphrodisiac virtues.

   1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 71

   4 more examples

   “In Egypt the sun is warm on the green palm-trees, and the crocodiles lie in the mud and look lazily about them.”

   1888, Oscar Wilde, “The Happy Prince”, in The Happy Prince and Other Tales, London: Duckworth, published 1928, page 28

   Industrial and rural expansion is shrinking and destroying the Nile crocodile's natural habitat. The Nile crocodiles, in particular, have been a source of highly durable leather for a variety of products which can be crafted and manufactured.

   2005, Mwelwa Musambachime, Basic Facts on Zambia, page 97

   Two species of crocodile inhabit Australian waterways: (a) the saltwater Crocodile — Crocodylus porosus, and (b) the freshwater crocodile — Crocodylus johnstoni.

   2008, Walkter B. Wood, “Chapter 16: Forensic Identification in Fatal Crocodile Attacks”, in Marc Oxenham, editor, Forensic Approaches to Death, Disaster and Abuse, page 244

   One contained some brightly-coloured tropical birds, one a python and the other a large and very lively crocodile. I told the customer that the boxes containing the crocodile and the python were not packed to my satisfaction, as there were not enough nails securing them.

   2011, Sam Thaker, The Crocodile's Teeth, page 31

   Synonyms: croc, cockatrice

2. A long line or procession of people (especially children) walking together.

   Sometimes the kids from the slap-up boys' schools in Eastbourne used to be led round in crocodiles to hand out fags and peppermint creams to the 'wounded Tommies', as they called us.

   1939, George Orwell, Coming Up for Air, part 2, chapter 8

3. human sciencesA fallacious dilemma, mythically supposed to have been first used by a crocodile.

   We have seen syllogisms, crocodiles, enthymemas, sorites, &c. explained and tried upon a boy of nine or ten years old in playful conversation[…]

   1798, Maria Edgeworth, Practical Education

4. Philippinesfigurativelygreedy or corrupt person (especially a politician or any public official)

present singular third person crocodiles · participle present crocodiling · participle past crocodiled · past crocodiled

1. intransitiveslangTo speak another language than Esperanto at an Esperanto-language gathering.